Antenatal classes and childbirth classes help you to understand the process of birth, to develop reasonable expectations and provide an opportunity for you to learn about different approaches to coping with pain during birth.

One approach to child birth focuses on the fact that the process is natural and healthy, and encourages mothers to accept pain as part of this and to focus on managing it rather than trying to avoid it completely. It focuses on natural, non-medical pain management techniques.

A related approach, the ‘coached birth’, emphasises the importance of active involvement of a birth partner in the birth process. This is often used as a way to avoid the use of pain relief medication until or unless absolutely necessary.

Antenatal classes will help you to find the best approach for you, and to understand how medical and non-medical pain relief can work together to give you the best birth experience possible.

Regular exercise during pregnancy will help prepare your body for labour by increasing your general fitness and strengthening your muscles. The more fit and strong you are, the better your ability will be to tolerate labour. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort during exercise, discuss this with your doctor.

Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is crucial for the development of your baby, but is also helpful in ensuring your body is ready for labour. A good diet will also assist you in maintaining a healthy weight, which helps prevent complications during labour.

Support from your partner or a friend, family member or birth partner can help you prepare for labour. Include them as you learn about the process and prepare for the delivery so they can help guide you through it.

You can improve your general health and the health of your baby by quitting smoking. This will also improve your breathing, reduce the risk of complications during childbirth, and promote healing after the birth.

Mindset matters, so understanding that labour is a normal and healthy part of pregnancy and approaching it with a positive attitude will give you a good foundation for the birth. An understanding of the way your body works during the different stages of labour and of your options for pain relief can be very empowering.

There are a number of relaxation techniques marketed for use during labour. Audio recordings or music are often used to help guide you. These techniques should be learned early in pregnancy and practiced often before birth.

Breathing techniques are often taught during antenatal classes as a way to manage pain. They can also be useful if using gas as a form of pain relief during labour, as this relies on controlled breathing for delivery.

Your birth partner may massage you or rub your back during or between contractions to provide some relief, especially during early labour.

Some yoga positions can provide relief from pain and may assist in the birthing process. This should be practiced during pregnancy to ensure you are able to properly perform the positions.

Hypnosis (either with a partner, or through self-hypnosis) can be useful in managing pain. This needs to be practiced well in advance of giving birth to be used effectively.

Meditation techniques can provide relief from pain and may also help control your breathing. If you wish to use meditation during your birth, you should learn and practice throughout your pregnancy.

Acupuncture, administered by a medical practitioner who is experienced in using it, can be useful early in labour to relieve pain. This should be discussed with your doctor or other obstetric carer before the birth.  Acupressure may also be of assistance.

Heat can be very effective at relieving pain, and is usually delivered in the form of heat packs or a warm bath or shower. Warm water may also help you relax which will also contribute to pain relief.

Continuing to move around during labour can relieve pain and help labour progress. Switching positions, pacing, walking, and squatting can all be helpful, especially between contractions or earlier in labour.

A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen can be inhaled to relieve pain rapidly, usually in under a minute. Nitrous oxide is also known as gas and air, as well as laughing gas or happy gas. This gas is delivered through a facemask or mouthpiece, and is usually inhaled at the very beginning of each contraction so that adequate pain relief is in your system during the worst of the pain. Nitrous oxide can be inhaled throughout the entire labour and delivery, but it is not strong enough for some women. It will assist you in managing your pain, but it will not completely alleviate it. Some women do not find satisfactory relief using nitrous oxide as their only form of pain relief.

When using nitrous oxide, you may experience lightheadedness along with tingling in the hands, feet and lips. This is caused by an increase in your breathing rate, and can be managed with controlled breathing learned through breathing exercises that can be practiced during pregnancy. Some women find that nitrous oxide gas pain relief causes nausea, tiredness and a dry mouth. Sipping cold water or sucking on ice chips can help you feel better, but if you feel too unwell you can simply stop inhaling the gas and try a different form of pain relief.

Pain-relieving drugs called opioids can be given by injection, usually into the thigh muscle or the buttocks, but sometimes into a vein. The most common drugs for this purpose are morphine and pethidine. Opioid injections do not completely get rid of pain, but they are usually very effective.

Opioids do not slow labour down or affect contractions, but they can cause side effects including nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. This pain relief method may also slow the baby’s breathing after birth, but this is easy to treat.

Opioid pain relief normally lasts about two hours, but this depends on your dose, the specific medication, and other factors. You can receive multiple doses over the course of the labour.

Anaesthesia is the most effective form of pain relief, and is usually able to block pain completely. These procedures require an anaesthetist to oversee them, which also means there may be delays in accessing this type of pain relief if the anaesthetist is busy with other patients or in surgery. Once delivered, however, anaesthesia is very effective and acts rapidly.

Many women find relief when lying on their side with a pillow between their knees, but you may find other positions also relieve pressure in tender areas.

You may choose to use a special donut-shaped pillow or cushion to make it more comfortable to sit in the days after you have given birth.

Salt baths can provide pain relief and promote healing of wounds. A sitz bath is a small salt bath just for your genitals, and can provide more topical relief.

Pelvic floor exercises improve blood flow to the perineum and genital tissues to assist in healing, and also work to strengthen and tighten muscles that were stretched during birth. Ask a midwife or physiotherapist to explain how to do these if you are unsure.

Ice packs can provide great relief if you are experiencing pain or burning in your perineum and genitals. They can also reduce swelling and inflammation.

Over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol may be enough to help you manage any pain after birth. You might also use paracetamol with codeine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used as well. These are commonly given as suppositories to be delivered rectally.

A physiotherapist may recommend ultrasound treatments to aid in the healing of the perineum.

If you had an epidural catheter inserted, doctors may choose to keep this in place after the birth is over in order to keep pain relief medication topped up until your pain is less severe. Not all doctors recommend this, so discuss your options with your medical team.